Flooding swells Midwest troubles

DETROIT -- Utilities in Michigan scrambled yesterday to restore power knocked out by a gusty weekend storm as rain and melting snow caused flooding there and in other parts of the Midwest.

DETROIT -- Utilities in Michigan scrambled yesterday to restore power knocked out by a gusty weekend storm as rain and melting snow caused flooding there and in other parts of the Midwest.

In Michigan, 132,000 customers were without electricity, down from more than 400,000 on Sunday, according to the state's utilities. Some could remain without power until Wednesday because of Sunday's storm, which carried winds gusting more than 60 mph.

Nearly 60,000 customers from central New York to Buffalo also lost power Sunday as wind gusts as high as 75 mph brought down trees and utility poles. About 4,400 remained without power.

Flood warnings were posted throughout the Midwest as temperatures rose after a week of heavy snowfall. Forecasters said flooding was possible in northwestern Ohio and areas of Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.

In Michigan, roads in some Ottawa County subdivisions were under 2 to 3 feet of water, while the first floors of some homes were flooded, National Weather Service hydrologist Mark Walton said.

Water overran banks in many areas of Illinois but had created only minor headaches by yesterday afternoon. A nursing-home evacuation in Ottawa, Ill., was precautionary, and a few rural roads were closed. More flooding was predicted.

In southeastern Wisconsin, the Fox River was predicted to crest about a foot above flood stage today in Wheatland. In Missouri, the Grand River reached nearly 9 feet above flood stage over the weekend.

The weather service said northeastern Washington and the Idaho panhandle could expect 3 to 7 inches of snow in valleys, and 6 to 10 inches in mountains by last night.